Bronze Star License Plates: A Fresh Take From A Vet
Categories: Military, Opinion
In regards to the whole Bronze Star license plate thing…I really don’t give a shit. If you got it and you want it on your license plate, then go ahead. If you didn’t get one, does it really upset you that much? It shouldn’t as long as you did your time honorably and did your job. I won’t say did your job to the best of your ability because I don’t give a shit if you tried really hard if you failed to meet the goal because the military isn’t McDonald’s where failure for a month is cool. Lives mattered, so we’ll say did your job and leave it at that.
The subject has been the source of a lot of controversy on one of our older articles and some heated debates. I can tell you firsthand, when I meet another veteran unless he’s a big ding dong swinging Medal of Honor recipient, I’m not overly concerned with what awards he does or doesn’t have. There may be jokes about POGs versus Grunts but they are just that, jokes, once you get your DD214, nobody is having the stack measuring contest we once did while we’re in. If you are, it’s kind of sad and pathetic, to be honest.
I’ll always be proud of my time in, but I’ll also remember that it was over ten years ago and I’ve done some other pretty cool things in my life, as I’m sure many of the veterans reading this have. You’re not the sum of your military experience. It was an important part of your growth and development as an adult, but it’s not ALL that you are.
So when it comes to license plates, whether it be Silver Star, Bronze Star, Navy Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross…whatever, if it makes you happy, do it. If you don’t care, then don’t. It’s not like the dudes rolling around with the plates didn’t earn theirs in some form or fashion. Maybe it’s time to stop hating on each other for trivial shit that doesn’t matter anymore.
I didn’t write that first piece, someone long before me did, and as controversial as it was and I don’t have a neat Bronze Star either, but what I do have is the pride in knowing that I did my job and watched my sectors.
I care less about your opinion on the subject as I do the subject.
Cared enough to comment Michael. Have a nice day!
Same you got served Micheal! What a f***ing loooooser
Completely agree with all of the above. What you got for a particular tour of duty depended on your Branch, Unit, and unfortunately in many cases you’re rank. I was torn over the decision to get a Bronze Star plate, and ultimately decided to do it for one simple reason. It was 2006 and after returning to the US from overseas I was surprised how no one here outside of the military was even aware that a war was still going on and that Service Members were still in harms way. Getting the plate was my small way of trying to remind the public that we are still a nation in conflict, we still have people on the wall, and our freedom still isn’t free. Whenever anyone asks me about it, I am very conscious about explaining the difference between my plate and one that says “For Valor” on it.
Exactly, it was a decision for you by you.
I have proof dd214s are being altered for membership in the American Legion Department of Florida. In fact the corruption goes all the way into the national American Legion. A reporter’s editor was threatened by the National AL that if they ran my story there would be consequences. I was expelled and have a court case pending, Interested?
john.fannin@gruntstyle.com
Your Outstanding Brother. I totally agree.
I would agree but I personally know some officers that got one and never left the FOB.. My guys put their ass on the line all the time. What kind of plate do they get? Oh yes we put them in for the appropriate awards but because only so many could be given well..My whole thing is if you sport the bronze star like you actually went out and engaged the enemy and didn’t..Well fuck you!
Yeah, I knew some dudes like that too, but at the end of the day, I know what I did. I don’t need to prove myself to anybody.
Sadly, the Bronze Star doesn’t carry any value anymore. It is given according to rank and position, not achievement. I have personally received an MSM on a deployment – according to regs, the garrison equivalent of the Bronze Star – because I did not have the right position. Ive heard unwritten policy from higher that only CDRs and 1SGs would get Bronze Stars, no one else.
I agree with John and other posters who know the military at large is a rank based award system. Did I have my share of people who out ranked me who weren’t there for the big missions, or busted their ass? Yeah, was I butt hurt, yeah. But like we all learned when we processed out of the military, your salad bar doesn’t mean dick to your civilians counterparts who were in phi kappa fuck face or sucka dicka daya, or whatever fraternity or sorority they belonged to. Put the medals in a shadow box, your uniform in a suit bag, and your coins on the mantle; we’ve done enough. Remember, we’re supposed to be the humble ones.
And that is what it’s about, after all. The Oath, having each other’s backs in the shit, or on liberty, whatever.
I didnt go out every day but I did go. I didnt expect an award. I just did everything in my power to make sure everyone came back. I busted my ads and watched alot kick back and take it easy. At the end there alot of E-7s and above that were pissed because I was awarded a Bronze star and all the got was an ARCOM. As the only E-6 in the BDE at the time that did get one I was suprised and humbled. It was a total Frickin surprise and I’m still humbled those above me saw that in me.
A big deal?
My old man got one in Nam for stealing a five ton full of plywood to build the Colonels office.
Apparently plywood was a big thing in the Nam and everybody wanted it. He was a “traffic control” something another and was the honcho SSG who decided when and where the convoys went.
I agree–I know what my role was, and I know what I did…it was 48 years ago, and doesn’t add up to a medium-sized hill of shit now.
I got the Purple Heart plate in Colorado for one reason: free registration. It would have cost me hundreds per year for tags, but free is a much better price. Bronze Star plates cost money like most other vanity plates. Vanity. Isn’t that one of those sins we learned about on Sunday school?
In Oregon, Purple Nerple plates cost dollars, thus I will just get the DV plates for free here instead.
Dollars and cents (sense?). That is all.
Never in combat, all I did was sit in the tomahawk box for months so when you guys called they would be there. After 25 years, I would rather have a plate with a pic of the guys that aren’t here anymore.
Texas recognizes both BSMs, one plate with a V one without. They also exempt your vehicle from registration fees for BSM, MSM, DFC, AM and most anything above those as well as some toll roads. I know I earned mine outside the wire in the mountains of Afghanistan. If someone doesn’t like my plates I’ll buy them a beer and some grub and lets get to the root of why. Most times it’s because somewhere a shitty leader either failed them or that leader was rewarded for shitty leadership. I agree that your chesticles are not the sum of your worth but I will never have a problem with a veteran being proud. That pride should be restrained though and not exude the “I’m better than civilians” attitude.
Well written sir.
I mean, I have a CMB plate, because rather than being something that may have been awarded for merit, may have simply been awarded because of pay grade, mine was absolutely earned for something I’m very proud of. But that’s just me, I suppose.
I’m going to get a COA license plate.